Europe Made The Difference For Jones

Asjha Jones averaged 17.9 points and nine rebounds per game for Rivas Ecopolis in the EuroLeague Women this season

Asjha Jones will realize a dream this summer when she puts on the United States jersey at the London Games.

It turns out that her success in the EuroLeague Women with Rivas Ecopolis, particularly at the Final Eight in Istanbul, had a major impact on USA Basketball's decision to add the 31-year-old to their Olympic team.

The USA named 11 of the 12 players to compete in London during the Final Eight and they have only just announced that Jones has claimed the 12th spot.

Jones, the MVP of the Final Eight after leading Rivas into the title game, believes her experience in the EuroLeague Women is what helped her make the team.

"I think so," she said.

"I think that probably put me over the top when they were figuring out this spot.

"I'm sure there were other people they were considering, but I think being named MVP was a big deal and definitely helped my standing with the committee."

The veteran forward, a member of the Americans' world title-winning side in the Czech Republic in 2010, ended up averaging 17.9 points and nine rebounds per game in the competition this season.

"Certainly her performance over in Europe this year, people have been raving about how well she's playing," USA coach Geno Auriemma said.

"To me, the fact that you play against those players over there, competed against them, had success against them, a lot of times they're the same people you're going to be playing against in the Olympics."